INTERACTIONS IN FORAGE YIELD TRIALS

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects on forage yield of interactions between a few common management treatments and herbage mixtures. Relative yields of the species and mixtures under comparison varied with the amount of fertilizer applied, stage of growth prior to harvest, stubble height, and seeding method. The response of grass to nitrogen fertilization varied with the height of stubble left after harvest. It was concluded that interactions may occur in the simplest of forage yield tests because of the treatments used. Possible methods of avoiding interactions are discussed.